Life-saving apparatus.



M. OLSEN.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY15,1911.

1 ,O20,366 Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

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I ATTORNEYS MARTIN OLSEN, OF EUREKA, CALIFORNIA.

LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

Application filed July 15, 1911. Serial No. 638,645.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN OLSEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Eureka, in the county of Humboldt and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Lifesaving Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved life saving apparatus for use on land, to accurately shoot a life line to a vessel onto a roof or into a window of a building, or for use on a vessel to shoot a life line to shore. For the purpose mentioned, use is made of a line carrier having means for supporting it on the muzzle end of the gun and in alinement with the pro jectile fired by the gun, and a line attached at one end to the said line carrier so that when the gun is fired the projectile strikes the said carrier and carries it along and with it the end of the line.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the life saving apparatus, part being shown in section on the line 11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the rear end of the gun and its recoil device; Fig. 4: is an enlarged view of the muzzle end of the gun; Fig. 5 is a front end view of the truck; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the projectile and its connection with the line and the floating support.

On a suitably constructed truck A is mounted to turn at B a turntable B supporting a gun carriage 0 provided with elongated guideways O engaged by trunnions D projecting from the sides of a gun D, of any approved construction, and having the usual sighting device E on top. The breech end of the gun D is provided at the bottom with a guideway F, in which is mounted to slide a pin G pressed on by a spring G and carrying a wheel G traveling on a guideway C forming part of the gun carriage C, it being understood that the arrangement described forms a recoil device, which permits upward or downward swinging of the gun D and firing thereof in any position with proper recoil action.

In order to elevate or depress the gun D,

use is made of a rearwardly-extending arm H, mounted to slide in the gun carriage C and connected by a link H with one side of the gun D, so that by moving the arm H forward or backward, an upward or a down ward swinging motion is given to the gun D to give the latter the desired elevation immediately prior to shooting a life line I to a vessel or from a vessel to the shore, or to a roof or into a window of a building, as the case may be. The life line I is coiled on the turntable B and its rear portion winds several times around a drum J extending transversely and journaled on the gun carriage C below the gun D, and the free forward end of the line I is connected with a loop K pivoted on a line carrier L, having rearwardly-extending pins L adapted to engage recesses D in the muzzle end of the gun D so as to support the line carrier L immediately in front of the muzzle and in axial alinement with the bore of the gun, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The line car rier L is mounted on the top of the boatshaped support N adapted to float on the water in case the carrier should not reach the vessel or shore. It will be seen that the line carrier L is removably supported on the muzzle end of the gun D, and when the latter is fired in the usual manner, then the projectile strikes the line carrier L and carries it along to its destination, and in doing so the line carrier L carries the line I along so as to establish connection between the shore and the vessel and between the ground and a roof or window of a building, or between the vessel and the'shore according to the use made of the life saving apparatus at the time.

In front of the drum J are arranged guide hooks P for guiding the life line I, the rear end of which is attached to a cleat Q held on the rear end of the gun carriage C. The drum J and cleat Q, are preferably arranged on each side of the carriage C, as shown in Fig. 2. The breech end of the gun D is provided with any approved firing mechanism R.

The inner end of the line carrier L is preferably recessed so that the ball or other projectile fired by the gun passes into the recess and carries the line carrier along and with it the free end of the life line I. The life line I may be hauled in by winding it up on the drum J.

It is understood that when the device is used on board of a vessel, thetruck may be dispensed with, the turntable then being mounted on any suitable support on the deck or other part of the vessel.

The ball or other projectile may be fired from the gun by powder or other explosive charge, or by compressed air, spring power or other means.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: i

A life saving apparatus provided with a gun, a line carrier adapted to be detachably supported on the muzzle of the gun, to receive a projectile therefrom, and having a portion thereof shaped like a boat whereby to buoy the carrier and projectile in water, and a line connected with said carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 20 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN OLSEN. Witnesses:

F. J. SCHOENEMAN,

G. W. HUNTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. C. 

